Healing Old Wounds
Part Three
Mirai Chi-Chi hummed a happy tune to herself as she worked up breakfast for Goku. It felt wonderful to cook a meal for an army where one man would consume it all. She looked upward towards the stairs where Goku was sleeping in his bedroom. It was strange and yet comforting to have Goku sleep next to her. She felt safe feeling that hard frame of muscle sleeping beside her. This was the first morning in a very long time that she had awakened with a smile.
Everything about this Goku reminded Mirai Chi-Chi of her husband with his appearance, his smell to his whole behavior. Still, there was one important factor that Mirai Chi-Chi refused to dismiss. He wasn't her husband. No matter that he was Goku, the man who looked, sounded and acted like her departed husband, he just wasn't her Goku. He belonged to another Chi-Chi of another time. She wished he was hers though. That way she wouldn't be lonely but she wasn't going to interfere with her younger counterpart's life. She wanted her other self to be happy and not go through all the pains she went through.
Mirai Chi-Chi had finished setting the food on the table when Goku arrived. He yawned tiredly and jumped at the amount of food on the table. "Oh, wow! Chi-Chi, this looks great!" Goku exclaimed.
Mirai Chi-Chi smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
Goku happily munched the down on his breakfast. Mirai Chi-Chi ate with him and then went ahead to get started on her dishes.
Several bowls and plates later, Goku rubbed his full stomach. "Boy, Chi-Chi. That was great!" He licked his lips. "Delicious as always!"
Mirai Chi-Chi felt a blush rise on her cheeks. "Thank you. Why don't you go take a bath? I brought out some of Goku's old clothes out of storage this morning and left them in the bedroom."
"I saw them when I left the room. Thanks." Goku headed upstairs to take his shower. Once he was finished, he decided to walk around the house to see how much it might have changed from his home.
The halls were as neat and clean as Chi-Chi always kept it. Goku stepped into Mirai Chi-Chi's bedroom, expecting a difference but finding it looking the same at his home in the past. There was a knitting basket where Chi-Chi was knitting a sweater on the dresser and beside it was a picture of Mirai Chi-Chi with her Goku and Gohan.
Goku smiled, remembering taking this picture with his family. He had one arm wrapped around Chi-Chi's shoulders and the other arm holding up Gohan. He was only four at the time and it was before the Saiyans arrival.
The closet door was partially opened and Goku looked inside. He found Chi-Chi's clothes in there but the side where Goku clothes were was empty. She never spaced out her clothes in the closet.
"His clothes were taken out but I couldn't bear to spread out my clothes," Mirai Chi-Chi said from behind Goku. "I guess it meant I was accepting him being gone."
Goku jumped. He didn't expect Mirai Chi-Chi to be behind him. "You startled me. I usually know who's behind me."
Mirai Chi-Chi didn't say anything to add to his comment. She looked to be in another world as she thought about her dead husband. "It was hard getting rid of his clothes. I didn't even do it. Gohan did. I was too broken up over Goku's death to do it. Sometimes I would sleep with one of Goku's training shirts. It was the only way I could get to sleep. Wearing his shirts to bed, especially if it carried his scent was a comfort to me. It felt as if he was still there. I didn't wash the bed sheets for weeks because it carried his scent. I didn't want to eat. My father and Gohan forced me eat and I stayed in bed for weeks and cried myself to sleep each night until I realized Goku wouldn't want me to be this way. I just couldn't continue to live that way. I had a son to live for and then he died on me." Tears spilled from her eyes like a river. "Kami, I miss them so much."
Goku embraced Chi-Chi. She held him tightly and cried heavily on him. He rubbed her back soothingly. 'I wonder if Chi-Chi felt this way when I first died and Gohan was taken with Piccolo for a year. She told me that she missed me and Gohan, but she never went into details as to how she spent that year alone.'
After crying on Goku for several minutes, Mirai Chi-Chi pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's just sometimes when I think about it, I just can't stop myself from crying."
"It's okay. I'm sorry for snooping. I was wondering if the house was the same as my own."
"It's fine," Mirai Chi-Chi said forgiving him. "Let me take you to Gohan's room."
They walked into Gohan's room and it looked the same when Gohan was a child but the bed was bigger and more pictures were in the room. There was a large 8x10 photo of Goku standing besides Gohan. He had a proud arm around Gohan's shoulder. It was one of the last photos taken before Goku died.
"After everyone died, Gohan put himself in solitary training until he was a Super Saiyan. He thought he could defeat the Androids then but he came back bloodied and defeated each time. When he was seventeen, he rarely came home in fear the Androids would find me because he accidentally led them here. I went out of my mind with worry during those times. Then I got the call from Bulma. I already knew it was Gohan's death before she said it." She left Goku's side and picked up a picture frame that was on his desk. She handed it to Goku. "This is the last picture I had of Gohan. He was nineteen."
In the picture, Mirai Gohan was wearing Goku's fighting gi. He had a scar on his face, similar to the one on Yamcha's face. Gone was the happy innocence Goku remembered of his son. This Gohan was full of seriousness, lost of innocence and anger. It reminded Goku of himself when he battled Frieza. Seeing his best friend being killed the evil killed the innocence that was left in Goku. Goku was sure that the deaths of Piccolo and the others did the same for Gohan.
It was then that Goku thought about his son. Since Goku hoped to continue to live in peace when he returned, he assumed his Gohan would grow up to look like Mirai Gohan except for the scar on his face and his son would be happy and not as serious as Mirai Gohan's picture reflects.
"Goku, there's something I've been wanting to ask you," Mirai Chi-Chi said suddenly. "How's the Chi-Chi in your time?"
"Not happy about me leaving," Goku said casually as he set the picture down. "Chi-Chi was worried about my safety. She also wondered about you and how lonely you were. She said she didn't know what to do if she had lost me and Gohan."
"I didn't either," Mirai Chi-Chi admitted. "Goku and Gohan were my life. All I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother and I lost that when Goku and Gohan died. Somehow, I found some strength to move on. If it had happened to your Chi-Chi, I'm sure she would've found a way to move on."
Goku saw Mirai Chi-Chi frowning again. He didn't want to see her sad. She had been sad for most of her life now. With him here, he wanted her to be happy until he left.
"You know your Goku wouldn't want you sad and depressed all the time. I hated it when my Chi-Chi was the same, too. So, why don't we try to focus on happier things?" He saw Mirai Chi-Chi raised an eyebrow at him, making Goku think twice. What was so happy about her life now? "Um, we have four months, let's try to be happy."
Mirai Chi-Chi took her arm in Goku's and leaned against him. "Just having you here, is enough to make me happy, but if you tell me about your Chi-Chi and Gohan, It would make me happier knowing are living in happy, peaceful times."
****
Goku lied awake one cool night. His hands were behind his head as he stared at the ceiling deep in thought. Mirai Ch-Chi was sleeping close beside him as she always did ever since he agreed to share the same bed with her. Her body was pressed against his the same way Chi-Chi's body was pressed against his. Chi-Chi was always liked to cuddle. Even on their wedding night when they made love for the first time and went to sleep, she slept close to him. At first Goku was startled and uncomfortable when she did that even though he was close to her in the most possible way only a little while earlier, but the feeling became nice and welcoming over time.
Thinking about his wife, Goku started to think of his first year away from her when he died. He missed her and Gohan and when he came back, he told Chi-Chi that. If it wasn't for Mirai Chi-Chi, he wouldn't have known all the loneliness and pain Chi-Chi encountered during his first death.
'Things will be different when I go back. Gohan is stronger than me now. He doesn't need any of my training. I won't interfere in his studies again…but the next one will. I still want to train my son for defense, but I will understand if Chi-Chi doesn't want me to. I understand her completely now.'
Goku looked down at Mirai Chi-Chi. 'I wonder if things would've been different for her if she was pregnant with another child. I know she would've been sad over her husband's death but the child would've helped her moved on.'
As he watched Mirai Chi-Chi's features in her sleep, Goku noticed the changes of her appearance over the past weeks. She was starting to look more like her age. Her face didn't look as haggard or worn out as when he first saw her. Some of the wrinkles were starting to fade. It was like something that had long died in her was coming back to life. She was happier now. She smiled all the time and laughed more. She was taking time to work on her garden again; bringing new life into it and Goku knew it was because of him. Upon noticing the change in her, Goku wondered if she would revert back to her old self when he leaves. He frowned. That was something he didn't want to happen.
'There has to be something I can do for her. Something I can give her so she won't be so lonely when I leave.'
****
Mirai Chi-Chi never liked being alone so when Goku said he was going out, whether it was to gather a fish or go walking in the forests to see the animals, Mirai Chi-Chi went along with him. Goku couldn't blame her. He knew Mirai Chi-Chi had been alone for years, especially alone in the fact that she hadn't been intimate with a man. When they slept, she slept close to him, she held onto him tightly when he embraced her, but she knew he wasn't hers so never let it go farther than that. Besides, she felt she would be betraying her own Goku who was long gone and that was something she never would let happen.
Today, they were driving on the countryside. There were several changes Goku and Mirai Chi-Chi were noticing. People were happy, laughing and singing as they rebuilt their homes, their neighbor's homes and the entire community. Happy times were back now that the threat and the Androids and Cell were permanently vanquished from the planet.
Suddenly, Goku pulled to the side of the road, stopping. Mirai Chi-Chi looked at him puzzled. "Goku, why did you stop?"
Goku turned the engine off. "I just thought we could fly instead. We can get a better view of the country that way. Come on. Get out."
Mirai Chi-Chi stepped out of the car and turned it into a capsule. He pocketed it and looked to the clear, blue sky. "Nimbus!" Goku called. Goku was going to call for the cloud again when he saw a whirl of yellow float through the sky. The cloud was happy to see its old master by flying around Goku happily before stopping in front of him. Goku ran a hand over the yellow, fluffy cloud. He remembered as a child Gohan called Nimbus fluffy cotton candy. "Hey, nice to see you, too, Nimbus!" Goku hopped on Nimbus, pulled Mirai Chi-Chi on the cloud with him and took off.
They flew over the countryside watching the people rebuild and then traveled over several cities that were destroyed by the Androids. Goku was stunned to see how disastrous the cities were and how the people were quick to rebuilding. Many of the cities had to be redone from scratch since most of them were flattened like a natural disaster had occurred.
"It's a disaster at what the Androids did, isn't it?" Mirai Chi-Chi asked reading Goku's thoughts.
"Yeah. I thought what they did to South City in my time was disastrous but that's nothing compared to the destruction of this time."
"They had years to do this, Goku" Mirai Chi-Chi said. "Many people fled the cities and went into the country and underground since there was no reason to repair since the Androids would come back and destroy it. There were a few people who stayed and tried to rebuild but they were killed. Some were too stubborn to leave their homes. I remember seeing a reporter reporting from Papaya Island. The Androids arrived and destroyed everyone on TV. They kept the cameraman alive so they could film them killing more people just to scare the viewers and once they were through killing everyone, Android 17 held the camera while Android 18 killed him.
"They were cruel, cold-hearted monsters. They loved using the TV to scare more people. There was a woman and child on the news pleading for the Androids to release her husband. He tried to attack the Androids. Android 17 held the father by his neck and choked him in front of his wife and child and then eighteen killed them. They were brutal."
From hearing Mirai Chi-Chi's description, he could see it in his eyes what the Androids did and he felt guilty about it. "It's my fault."
Mirai Chi-Chi turned her head slightly. "What did you say?"
"I said it's my fault. The Androids were created by Dr. Gero to get revenge on me because I defeated the Red Ribbon Army as a child. I started the events that led to the near destruction of this planet and my world. All those people including Gohan died because of me."
Mirai Chi-Chi turned around in Nimbus to face Goku. She placed gentle hands on his face and forced him to look at her. "No, it's not your fault. You didn't know this would happen."
"No, but it doesn't excuse the fact that I had a huge part in making these events happening."
"Goku…" Mirai Chi-Chi spoke softly.
"There must be a way to fix this," Goku said solemnly. "The dragon balls?" Goku thought suddenly.
"Goku, the dragon balls are gone. When Piccolo died, so did Kami and the rest of the dragon balls," Mirai Chi-Chi explained gently.
"Yes, but there is a way," Goku said determined with a plan. "Nimbus, let's go to Korin's tower," Goku ordered.
Nimbus turned around in his flying and headed upward to Korin's tower. "Goku, what are you thinking?" Mirai Chi-Chi asked.
"I have a plan."
Nimbus parked in front of Korin's Tower. They jumped off the Nimbus cloud and walked in the tower. To Mirai Chi-Chi, this was something new since she had never been here before. She looked around in amazement, but to Goku it was nothing having been here several times in his childhood and adulthood. The wise mouth cat was no where to be found but Goku could feel his presence. It had to be upstairs on the upper part of the tower.
"Korin? Hey, Korin, where are you?"
Walking down the stairs, came a furry white cat on a cane. He looked startled as if he was seeing a ghost and dropped his stick. "G-Goku?"
Goku saluted Korin as he and Mirai Chi-Chi approached them. "Hiya!"
"B-but," he sputtered. "You can't be here. You're dead." Goku explained to Korin about coming back from the past. After listening to the amazing story, the furry cat rubbed his chin. "Oh, well that will explain it. So, what brings you here?"
"Actually, I was on my way to the Lookout and I wanted to see how you were doing."
"Still living," he said smartly. "Terrible events have plagued the planet and all of Earth's Special Forces are gone. I discovered that the Androids have been defeated by Vegeta's son."
"Yeah, the Earth is at peace now but there's so much sadness. I'm not sure if the Earth would recover unless we do something drastic."
"Like what?"
"I have a plan, but I'm not sure it will work," Goku laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. "It's a long shot but I'm willing to try it." He put an arm around Mirai Chi-Chi's waist and jumped off the tower. "Come on, Chi-Chi. See ya, Korin."
Korin waved goodbye to Goku as he and Mirai Chi-Chi flew higher up to the Lookout. "I wonder what he has in mind."
Mirai Chi-Chi looked around in awe having never been to the Lookout before. She gasped seeing the large palace at the other end of the Lookout. "Oh, wow. So, you spent three years here? It's incredible."
"Yep. It's a good thing the Androids never knew about this place otherwise they would've attacked here." Goku explained to Mirai Chi-Chi as they walked on the cool white tiles, passed the palm trees and flowers on their way to the entrance of the large gold covered domes of the house of Kami. "I hope he's here," Goku said to himself. "Mr. Popo?"
Silence.
"Mr. Popo? Are you here? It's me--Goku!"
There was nothing but silence for the next ten minutes. Goku was about to give up and leave to start his plan when he heard footsteps approaching them. Out of the front entrance Mr. Popo stepped up. He took one look at Goku and stepped back startled. "No, you can't be."
Knowing the routine, Goku quickly explained how he got to this time reassuring his former teacher that he was not seeing a ghost. "I see. What brings you hear, Goku?"
"I was thinking about the destruction of the Earth and I was thinking about using the dragon balls to repair some of the damage."
"But Goku, Kami's gone. Trunks told you that."
"I know, Mr. Popo. The Kami in my time fused with Piccolo so the dragon balls vanished. I had to go to the New Namek to get Dende to be the new guardian and I was thinking of doing the same thing here. Because of him we have two wishes now."
Mr. Popo thought for a moment and smiled happily. "I would love to have company here. It's been lonely and quiet since Kami died."
"Good. I have to go see King Kai now. He should be around in this time since I didn't have him killed," Goku thought cheerfully and looked at Mirai Chi-Chi. "Wanna come, Chi-Chi?"
"Of course, Goku."
Goku put two fingers to his forehead and vanished. In seconds he was back on King Kai's planet. The thought was funny to him since the Kai's planet in his time was blown up by Cell.
He saw Bubbles and Gregory first. They were chasing each other around the tree. "Bubbles! Gregory! It's great to see you alive! It's me, Goku!" The bug and monkey approached Goku expressing happy greetings and asking him how he was alive. Goku picked up Bubbles and looked at Chi-Chi. "These guys helped me with my training when I was on King Kai's planet."
"They did?" Mirai Chi-Chi said surprised as she was handed Bubbles. "He's just an adorable monkey." Mirai Chi-Chi rubbed Bubbles head affectionately and the monkey blushed.
"Don't let their appearances fool you. They help me maintain the gravity level in training here. Where's King Kai, Gregory?"
"He's inside cleaning up. King Kai!" Gregory called. "Goku's here!"
"Gregory, that's a stupid joke to make. You know Goku is dead!" King Kai yelled as he stepped out of his house. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Goku. "Goku? Is that you?"
"Well, yeah, sort of. It's gonna take some time to explain."
****
"How dare you?! You ungrateful student!!" King Kai yelled as he threw everything he owned at Goku. Mirai Chi-Chi could only wince, duck and cover her eyes occasionally as King Kai chased Goku all over his planet in a mad rage. He even threw Bubbles and Gregory at him.
"I knew you would be the death of me and you are! How could you kill me?! I'm your teacher! I deserve better than that!" King Kai screamed.
Goku ducked, dodged and ran from an angry King Kai after he explained how he got to this time and what had happened in his time with the Androids and Cell. "I thought it was the only way to save the Earth!" Goku tried to explain. "Besides, it's not you who's dead; it's your younger self."
King Kai had steam coming out of his ears as his face turned red in anger. "I don't care!!! I'm still dead!! I can't believe you killed me!! Your own teacher! First, you nearly give me a heart attack in your fights with Frieza and now you finish me off with Cell!!"
"King Kai is happy in the Other World. He said there are a lot of people from the North Quadrant he can hang out with. He's fine!"
King Kai looked around for something else to throw at Goku and that was his mint condition Fairlane car. As much he was angry with Goku now, no way was he going to damage his priceless vintage car. The wise sensei sighed.
"Well, why are you here then?" King Kai asked annoyed.
Goku rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Well, I uh, kinda of forgotten which way the New Namek was. Can you show me?"
King Kai frowned and then sighed. "All right. All right. But I'm only doing it for the people of Earth." He eyed Mirai Chi-Chi. "In a way, your Goku is the same as this one so I can easily say I don't know how you put up with such a rude, rude man. Did you know he nearly cleaned me out of a house and home when he was training under me? After I cook my best meals, he had the nerve to say that it filled him up but it wasn't that good."
Mirai Chi-Chi giggled. "That's Goku."
King Kai mumbled something and turned his attention to finding the New Namek. His antennas moved around until they certainly stood vertically. "Okay, Goku. I got it. It's over here."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember!" Goku said. He put one arm around Mirai Chi-Chi and used the other hand was used to perform the Instant Transmission. "Thanks King Kai!" He said before the two vanished.
To Be Continued
Puppiescute: That would be wrong if Goku and Mirai ChiChi did something.
CB: In a way, yes Goku would be cheating on his wife. Just because Mirai ChiChi looks and share memories to his ChiChi, doesn't mean it's his ChiChi and it wouldn't be right if he did anything intimate with her. Goku has shared experiences ChiChi that he never had or will with Mirai ChiChi and she isn't his wife. He's married to another ChiChi of another dimension.
GD: At least you got it. I'm surprised at some of the reviewers wanting Goku to do something with Mirai Chi-Chi. No matter what, that isn't his wife even though she looks like her and is her of the future, it's of a different time. She's different from the Chi-Chi Goku knows in his time. So, the bribes I gave you aren't the reason I'm on your favorites list? Cool! LOL!
Gogirl: They are only sharing a bed and that's it. Hmm, Mirai ChiChi getting pregnant? Let's do that! Hee. Hee. That would be a new spin on the story!
Cdog21: Read my responses to CB and GD.
Lady Athena: Mirai ChiChi's keeping her feelings in check. She knows it wouldn't be right for her or Goku. Whoa, if Mirai ChiChi and ChiChi, that would be weird. I would be freaked if I talked to my older self. Wouldn't you be? Goku's staying with her for four months.